Irish Rugby : Club & Community : News : An Ghaeltacht Youngsters Cheer On Ireland

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne has issued a statement following confirmation of Ronan O'Gara's decision to retire from playing professional rugby.

Ronan O'Gara's retirement from professional rugby brings to an end an achievement-packed career that saw him dominate matches in Ireland and around the world in the colours of Cork Constitution, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions.

IRFU provincial and national age grade coaches - Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s - and IRFU elite player development staff from the four provinces gathered recently to review their experiences, discuss challenges and align closer to ensure the development of more effective elite players across the IRFU Elite Player Pathway.

An Ghaeltacht RFC hosted its fifth annual triathlon earlier this winter, and three of its top earners secured themselves seats at the Aviva Stadium for last Saturday's clash with Italy.

Featuring a raft of Under-10, Under-11 and Under-12 players, each one of them ran one kilometre, cycled five kilometres and swam 25 metres in the village lake.

Winter temperatures in the far west are not famed for their forgiving nature, but the hardy bunch of kids plodded, pedalled and plowed their way through the course - smiles and core body temperatures intact.

Colm Mac Donnacha (Under-11s), Killian Ó Suilleabháin (Under-12s) and Reamon Ó Suilleabháin (Under-10s) pulled in the most support and won the chance to head to the home of Irish rugby to support Declan Kidney's men against the Azzurri.

The An Ghaeltacht club has made waves this winter well beyond the lake too, where its junior team asserted themselves as a developing force to be reckoned with in both league and cup fixtures.

Great progress is being made with the club's minis and underage structures, so it may not be too long before an An Ghaeltacht player is answering 'Ireland's Call' on the pitch at the Aviva Stadium.

Related Links -

An Ghaeltacht RFC